I hope by passing this info along, it will save your dogs life!

Woof!

by Frank Utchen, DVM

Can raisins and grapes really poison dogs? The answer is an emphatic yes, and everyone who owns a dog needs to know it. In this article, I’ll describe the grape-raisin syndrome in dogs and review the basic steps in treating the most life-threatening aspect of this type of poisoning: kidney failure.

If your dog ingests grapes or raisins, it is best to contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), where they have specially trained staff who provide assistance to pet owners and specific diagnostic and treatment recommendations to veterinarians. Because affected dogs could die, dog owners should stop feeding their dogs grapes, raisins, and any food containing grape extracts.

If ingestion should occur, it is recommended that you seek veterinary assistance immediately to initiate aggressive medical management. For more information on the toxicity of grapes or raisins, see the ASPCA APCC Web site  www.apcc.aspca.org ).

Recently, veterinarians have recognized this new poisoning in dogs: severe acute kidney failure following ingestion of grapes or raisins.

What causes it?

The specific poisons involved in this toxicosis have eluded identification. Fungal, pesticide, and heavy-metal causes have been ruled out at this time. Investigation continues. It appears from recent unpublished data that the toxic component is within the flesh of the grape/raisin, not the seed.

How much is dangerous?

The lowest recorded amounts that caused kidney failure in dogs are, for grapes: 0.3 ounces of grapes per pound of body weight, and for raisins 0.05 ounces per pound. In more conventional terms, this would mean a 50 lb dog could be poisoned by eating as little as 15 ounces of grapes, or 2 to 3 ounces of raisins.

However, smaller amounts could also cause problems – we really don’t know exactly what the minimum dose is.

However, not every dog or cat is susceptible. Many animals can tolerate large quantities of grapes or raisins without problems, and at this time no one knows what the main risk factors are that make one animal susceptible to being poisoned.

What about Grape seed Extract or grape juice?

This appears to be safe.

Toxicity has been associated with seedless grapes, so the toxin is unlikely to be within the seeds. It is then possible that grape seed extract is safe to use—however, this has not been conclusively proven. The reason this is important to know is that grape seed extract is a powerful antioxidant that may be helpful in the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, and some dog owners use this in their older dogs.

There is no information available about grape juice or wine. However, since the toxic agent is not known, current recommendations are to avoid giving grape juice or wine to dogs or cats.

What should I do?

If you see you dog eat grapes or raisins, the smartest thing to do is to make them vomit immediately. A tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide given by mouth will usually accomplish this within 5 or 10 minutes.

However, if there is any chance that some grapes or raisins have not been vomited up, the safest thing to do is take your dog to your veterinarian. The appropriate treatment to minimize the risk of kidney damage is to administer large amount of IV fluids for 36 to 72 hours.

What is the prognosis?

The prognosis in cases where kidney failure develops is guarded, at best. This is medical jargon that means, very roughly: the chances of survival are 50/50.  Prognosis is good if caught immediately after a dog has eaten the grapes or raisins.

Check out this link:

Aurora Borealis

“Run DMC was the first rap group to go platinum. They were the first rap group to sell out a successful arena tour. They were the first rap group to bridge the gap between the decidedly white medium of rock n’ roll and the decidedly more urban medium of rap. And they undoubtedly revived the career of a flailing Aerosmith back in 1986 when they reworked their seminal classic “Walk This Way” as a blistering rap/rock crossover. Yet amidst all the success lies the inevitable heart of darkness.

While working on his forthcoming solo album, Checks, Thugs And Rock N’ Roll, DMC learned that he had been adopted as a child. Perhaps not a huge revelation, but still nonetheless an eye-opening discovering, especially for a man well into his thirties. The buck doesn’t stop there, however. We’re all familiar with the de rigueur rock n’ roll cliches of drug abuse, sexual escapades and groupie hi-jinx, band in-fighting…tucked in amongst these is the dark specter of suicide.

And hard to believe as it may be, Darryl McDaniels, 1/3 of what many consider to be the greatest rap group ever to grip a set of microphones, command a pair of turntables, and grace the stage, once considered killing himself. Surprisingly enough, it was the intervention of a Canadian chanteuse that saved his life. This is his story…as told to Spence D. Of further note is the fact that DMC’s knowledge of his adoption and the classic Harry Chapin song, “Cat In The Cradle” play an important role in the events that unfolded over the course of the past decade.”I’ve been on this earth for 35 years and 10 years ago I’m sittin’ there and I’m like ‘Yo, am I here just to be DMC?’

First to go Gold, first to go Platinum, did all of this. Grew up in Hollis, Queens, I went to the best Catholic schools all my life, Catholic elementary, Catholic high school, I went to St. Johns University. Okay, it was Christmas for me everyday growing up as a kid. I was spoiled. Best life a kid could have. Now I become DMC with Joey, who was just Joey, but now we’re Run DMC and we go on to spearhead the whole hip-hop movement and we go on to fortune and fame. So I’m sittin’ over in Europe 10 years ago and sayin’ ‘Somethin’ ain’t right here. Somethin’ is missin’.’ But I couldn’t put my finger on it. So I said to myself–not that I wasn’t happy with the way things were goin’ and I wasn’t grateful for all of my accomplishments, but I said ‘Okay, I’m gonna commit suicide.’ Why? Probably because I was unhappy with ‘if this is all I’m gonna get out of this life, I can’t stay here. I’m ready to move on to my next plane of existence. There’s gotta be more to this. People were like ‘D, you’re crazy! You’re f—–’ DMC. You’ve got a wife, kids, life is beautiful.’ I said, ‘All of that is lovely, but there’s something else that is missing.’”This was in ‘97 and I said ‘When I get home from Europe…’ I was in Europe and Run DMC, without havin’ a hit record or video, we’re over in Europe getting’ a hundred grand a night. Life can’t be better than that s—. I don’t give a f— if somebody knows nuthin’ about my music, we’re the f—–’ Rolling Stones, we’re the f—–’ Beatles of hip-hop. A lotta rappers, after they sell their 21 million two years from now you ain’t gonna care about these muthaf—–. It don’t get no better than that. Me, Run, and Jay, we were able to tour until we were 85. People would still comes see us doin’ “It’s Like That” [as old men]. But I said ‘When I get home, I’m gonna commit suicide.’ So I get home and I get in the car that picks me up [at the airport], I turned the radio on. Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” was on the radio. That recordsaved my life. Wife. Kids. Fortune. Fame. I didn’t give a f— about none of that.

I turned the radio on–and I’m tryin’ to express to you how it’s so funny. I turned it on and I heard Sarah McLachlan’s record and something that day said ‘Life is good. It’s good to be alive.’ “So I go and I buy that record and everything Sarah McLachlan ever made. I listen Sarah McLachlan for one whole year. At the end of the year the Grammy’s come around and my manager says ‘D, let’s go to the Grammy party. We’re gonna go to Clive Davis’ party.’ I didn’t want to go. I didn’t care about s—. All I cared about was Sarah McLachlan records. So we go to the Grammy party, I get there and who do I see sittin’ across the room–’cuz she was on Arista Records under Clive Davis–it’s Sarah McLachlan. She was ‘that lady.’ I go ‘Oh my god, it’s that lady!’ So I’m gettin’ all nervous, but then I go ‘No, I gotta go over there and tell Sarah McLachlan what her record did for me.’

So I pushed through the red carpet and the paparazzi, I get over to Sarah McLachlan, she looks up and she sees DMC standin’ there in his full Run DMC regalia, hat, dressed in black, Adidas on. She says ‘Run DMC, I love you guys. I love what you guys represent. Your music is so cool. I’m a big fan.’ I’m like ‘Wow!’ Then I go, ‘Ms. McLachlan, thank you for tellin’ me that but I was suicidal, I didn’t know what life was about, I had a lot to live for, but I was upset and was gonna kill myself. I don’t know if I would’ve really done it, but just having suicidal thoughts. Then I heard your record “Angel.” Now the record’s name is “Angel,” you sound like an angel, people say you’re an angel, but you’re not an angel to me, you’re a god.’ And I’m goin’ on and on and on and she’s lookin’ at me like ‘Oh-kaaaaay. So I finish and she looks at me and she says this to me: ‘Thank you for telling me that Darryl, ’cause that’s what music is supposed to do.’ She shakes my hand and she walks away.”

Bay Area Fire fighters.

The young lady in the photo, Monica Plum of Powhatan, Va heard a news story 2 years ago of a dog that survived a fire because of a specially designed oxygen mask for pets. She conducted research and then did some fundraising so the 5 firetrucks in her county could carry the equipment. She met her goal and then some.

As of this week she has supplied nearly 300 fire stations from Maine to Alaska with the pet saving equipment! And I’d like you to continue to help her. You can make a donation of any denomination to help Monica and her quest to save animals.

Click on the picture if you’d like to make a donation…You can even donate to a specific fire station in loving memory of your pet!  I’ll be making a donation of a complete kit to the San Francisco Firestation #1.

Won’t you join me?

I happen to hate snakes too…only the ones that are poisonous…at first they startle me (for good reason)  then I check to see what KIND of snake they are and THEN I panic…gopher snake…ok…you can pass…you’re cool…go and eat some ground squirrels…but a rattler…I can backpeddle pretty fast.  I ride out in the east bay hills, mainly Pleasanton ridge, and I’m happy to say that I have yet to encounter a rattler this season, but for all intents and purposes, SNAKES are prevalant this year…

Doug Bell, wildlife program manager for the East Bay Regional Park District, said excellent habitat and feed conditions have benefited snakes and most wildlife. He called it “a spectacular snake year.”

It’s become common this month to see lots of snakes at Bay Area parks, from the Central Valley into the foothills across California, and in the high country of the southern Sierra.

Heavy rain this spring was the trigger. High forage supported lots of ground squirrels, mice, gophers, small rabbits and lizards. That provided a ton of food for rattlesnakes and gopher snakes. Other critters have shared in the feast, including bobcat, fox, coyote, and raptors such as golden eagles, hawks, falcons and owls.

How can you tell a “good snake” – gopher snake from a “bad snake” – rattler?

Rattlesnakes are important members of the natural community. They will not attack, but if disturbed or cornered, they will defend themselves. Reasonable watchfulness should be sufficient to avoid snakebite. Give them distance and respect.

This is a Contra Costa Northern Pacific Rattlesnake

This is a Contra Costa County Gopher snake.

Here’s another snake that confuses the whole situation! The California Night Snake!

Kitchen Nightmares, the FOX program featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay spitting out food and screaming at people, is looking for a new serving of reality television victims in San Francisco.

So if you or someone you know is running a restaurant into the ground, this might be a shot to turn things around — or at least be embarrassed on cable television.

The online application includes questions like “List Five Things the Restaurant needs Help With” and “Why should Gordon Ramsay pick you and your restaurant?”

Applicants are also encouraged to submit a video audition. Ramsay loves complaining about kitchen cleanliness and lazy chefs serving frozen food, so it might be time to look into the dark corners of the walk-in for some juicy rant-bait.

Thanks to months of dedication and care from veterinarians and volunteers, the tough little pup is ready for a permanent home.

Mighty Mouse, a Chihuahua/terrier mix was just four weeks old when a 4-year-old child put him in a microwave for 15 seconds, causing severe damage to the tiny dog’s ears, paws, colon and anus.

Specialized surgeons operated on Mighty Mouse to repair his delicate system, but he will need ongoing care for the rest of his life.

The staff at the non-profit Hopalong & Second Chance Animal Rescue have been helping Mighty Mouse become strong and live up to the name they gave him.

Hard work and the tenacity of the feisty, mixed breed pup made Mighty Mouse ready for his forever home. Check out the video clip below that shows the cute little bundle of energy romping around, fetching a ball and acting just like any puppy should.

If you’re interested in making Mighty Mouse your BFF, check out Hopalong’s website and fill out an adoption application.

By JESSICA GREENE
First Published: Jul 22, 2010 1:03 PM PDT

Swift explains that the album’s title is the theme and that “track by track, each song is a different confession to a different person… In the past two years, I’ve experience a lot of things that I’ve been dying to write about. A lot of things I wanted to say in the moment that I didn’t.” Swift did not mention whether any of the songs were about her highly publicized relationships with Taylor Lautner or Joe Jonas.

According to Swift, the 14 tracks on Speak Now were written entirely and only by the superstar herself. “It just so happened that the songs that made the cut on the album were the ones I wrote myself, so, wish me luck,” she said during the live chat.

Swift told her fans that her first single, “Mine,” is about her habit of running from love. She explained how in every relationship she has had, she has developed a pattern of running away when it came to the time of falling in love. This song is, however, about finding “the exception to that and finding the person that makes you believe in love and realize that it can work out.”

Fearless was the top-selling album of 2009 and gave Swift every major award, including four Grammys.

Sources:
Associated Press

Whether it’s real or made up…it makes a great point…Like I said, “Food for thought…”

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn’t slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American ..

Good idea … . one light bulb at a time .

Check this out . I can verify this because I was in Lowes the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China.

The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in  USA.  Start looking.

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else – even their job . So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track … Let’s get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey’s candy.  I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now…I do not buy it any more. My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico … now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets . I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, “Everyday Value .. ”

I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats – they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in – get ready for this – the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here ..

So on to another aisle – Bounce Dryer Sheets . .. . yep, you guessed it, bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the  USA- the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

(We should have awakened a decade ago … )
Let’s get with the program . .. help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U . S . A .

The movie, an adaptation of Michael Lewis’s book of the same name which told the story of Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane and his unorthodox approach to assessing talent that helped the A’s succeed on a shoestring budget, stars Brad Pitt as Beane.

But it might also have appearances from some local ballplayer as folks turned out to the Rickey Henderson Field of Dreams at Oakland Tech high school to audition as ball playing extras.

The film also promises to feature plenty of familiar faces from the A’s back at the turn of the century playing themselves.

Our friends over at BeInAMovie.com are offering you the chance to be in the movie Moneyball this summer. They will be shooting a fake baseball game in Oakland, but they need your help filling the stands!

As part of your day on the stadium set, you’ll be able to watch Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill film the most important baseball scenes for the film.

Though these won’t be paid extras positions, during your time on set you’ll be eligible for raffle prizes including giftcards, DVDs and baseball tickets.So if you want to be an extra in the movie, here are the filming dates (you will need to be available for the entire day you register for):

Mon. July 26, 2010 – @ 9:00 PM – 4:30 AM
Tue. July 27, 2010 – @ 9:00 PM – 4:30 AM
Wed. July 28, 2010 – @ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu. July 29, 2010 – @ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri. July 30, 2010 – @ 7:30 PM – 3:00 AM
Sat. July 31, 2010 – @ 7:30 PM – 3:00 AM
Mon. August 02, 2010 – @ 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tue. August 03, 2010 – @ 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
So when the movie is finally released, keep an eye out for the credits — you might just recognize the name of “Outfielder No. 3″ from the neighborhood.